UPCOMING EVENTS

HCLA BackStage Pass | Promised Land as Proving Ground Tour
Tuesday, February 25 | 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm | Conner Prairie | 13400 Allisonville Road | Fishers
Join HCLA for an exclusive preview of Conner Prairie’s new Promised Land as Proving Ground exhibit before its full opening later this year.
Experience an unforgettable personal encounter with the traditions, challenges, and decisions of early Hoosiers. This tour and reflective walk, which extends across the museum grounds, immerses you in the many ways African culture influenced what is today known as “American” culture. Expect an interactive, multimedia experience that furthers Conner Prairie’s mission of inspiring curiosity.
As a free state, Indiana symbolized a Promised Land for some African American families, offering economic opportunity, independence, and freedom from oppression. At the same time, it was a Proving Ground—a place to cultivate African American faith and test the ideals of American democracy.
This is the first time Conner Prairie has created an experience that tells the whole story of Indiana’s history. It moves away from a first-person narrative to encourage present-day dialogue and conversations about the impact of the African American community on Indiana’s past and its present.
Space is limited to 25 people.

Creating Accessible Job Descriptions—an InvestAbility Workshop
Thursday, February 27 | 9:00 – 11:00 am | Hamilton East Public Library | Noblesville
Join Hamilton County Leadership Academy and Invest Hamilton County for a free, hands-on workshop to make your organization’s job opportunities available to all!
First impressions matter—especially in hiring. Job descriptions and online recruiting portals serve as the first introduction to your organization, shaping how potential candidates perceive their ability to contribute as employees. Are your job postings welcoming and accessible to a diverse talent pool?
In this interactive workshop, facilitated by accessABILITY, participants will examine their job descriptions more closely and explore practical ways to make them more inclusive. Together, we’ll identify potential language, structure, and expectations barriers that may unintentionally exclude qualified candidates.
This workshop will provide:
Tips to utilize when reviewing your job descriptions for inclusivity and accessibility.
Strategies to refine responsibilities and qualifications for a broader, more diverse applicant pool.
Hands-on exercises to update and improve a job or volunteer position description in real time.
This session is designed for anyone involved in hiring, recruitment, or workforce development—not just HR professionals. We recognize that every member of an organization plays a role in shaping its hiring culture.
Please bring a professional or volunteer job description from your organization. By the end of the session, you will have a revised version that fosters a more inclusive and accessible recruitment process. This workshop is an opportunity to gain practical insights, refine your approach, and contribute to a more equitable hiring experience within your organization. We look forward to learning alongside you as we explore ways to make job opportunities more available to all.
This program is made possible through the InvestAbility partnership with Invest Hamilton County and HCLA. The InvestAbility partnership focuses on engaging employers in our work with students and adults with different abilities.

Class of 2026 Interest Meet-ups
HCLA Class of 2026 Interest Meet-ups will share information about HCLA, the Class of 2026 application process, and what we are looking for as we build our 2026 cohort. These sessions are not a mandatory part of the application process but provide time to answer questions and highlight the impact of HCLA in Hamilton County. Join us at one of our three meet-ups:
- Tuesday, March 11 from 5:00-6:30 pm | Songbird Social House (Carmel)
- Tuesday, March 18 from 3:30-5:00 pm | Collaboration Hub (Fishers)
- Wednesday, March 26 from 8:30-10:00 am | Westfield Washington Township (Westfield)

12th Annual HCLA Leadership Summit
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 | 11:00 am – 1:00 pm | Embassy Suites and Conference Center Noblesville